Lock for laundry bags



June 22 1926. 1,589,570

- H. SAMBLE LOCK FOR LAUNDRY BAGS Filed Oct. 30, 1925 Patented June 22, 1926.

HARRY SAMBLE, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

IldCK FOR LAUNDRY BAGS.

Appllcationflled October 80, 1925. Serial No. 66,787.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for securing the entrance end of a laundry bag so that the contents thereto may not be disturbed or removed during the process of collecting laundry, washing the same, and returning it to the customer or owner.

At the present time it is a common practice for laundries to receive laundry from a family in a package or unlocked bag or other receptacle. The articles are then placed in a net or open mesh bag by the laundry, then they are placed in the washing machine to be washed. After they have been washed and partially dried by centrifugal process, they are replaced in the owners receptacle and returned to that party. This arrangement often results in loss of articles, and, sometimes they are exchanged with other customers articles. In the present invention the net bag is delivered to a customer together with the locking device which forms a part of my invention. The customer places the clothes in this bag and the entrance is closed by means of the locking device. The keys to the lock of the device are retained at all times in the possession of the customer or owner of the articles. The articles being received by the laundry can not be removed. They are washed, dried, and returned in the same receptacle to the customer. the key to the locking device there is no way for any other person to disturb the contents of the net bag.

Broadly, the locking device comprises a large safety pin construction having means for locking the pin against removal from its clip by means of a small padlock, the arm of which is passed through an opening in the end part of the pin which protects the pointed part of the pm. A suitable identification tag is attached to the other or fixed member of the pin, which tag bears the customers name and address.

7 Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing the receptacle or 'net bag in which the laundry articles are placed and the securing device which closes the entrance. This device 1s passed through the gathered entrance end and illustrating the pin in locked position, also the tag for identifying the owner of its contents. 1

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the locking Since the owner retains device removed from the net bag, being shown 1n open or unlocked position.

Flg. 31s a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4- is a detail view of the small padloccllc, the locking arm being shown open, an

Fig. 5 is thekey to the lock.

Referring to the drawings in detail:

1 designates the receptacle in which the laundry articles to be washed are placed.

This receptacle is usually formed with a large open mesh and sometimes spoken of as.a net bag to permit the water to freely circulate through the meshes. It being understood that the receptacle containing the articles is placed in a washing machine.

The locking device comprises a large safety pin construction having the fixed bar 1' which is permanently secured to the-cap or protecting member 2, which member is composed of sheet metal and is substantially U-shape in plan view. The web part 3 is formed with an opening 4 which opening is so arranged that a part of the fold of the portion 5 is notched as indicated at 6. 7 designates a small pad lock and 8 the locking arm which is pasesd through the opening 4 and engages the notched portion 6 whereby when the pin 9 is placed in the cap or protecting member 3 and the arm 8 is passed through the opening 4 and seated in the notched portion 6 and locked the pin can not be removed.

It is understood that the laundry articles are first inserted in the bag 1 and the opening indicated at 10 is gathered as illustrated, and the pin 9 is inserted before the pin is placed in the cap member and the lock is applied.

For the purpose of identifying the owner of the contents of the bag 1, a suitable fabric tag is attached to the fixed arm or bar 1 of the pin which tag is designated by the numeral 11. The owners name is placed on the tag either by stitching a separate piece of cloth or label bearing the owners name or it may be stamped directly onto either of the surfaces 11' or 11 The owner of the contents of the bag at all times retains the key 13 of the lock 7 so that there is no possibility of an unauthorized person disturbing the contents of the bag at any time. When they are returned to the customer, the locking device may be readily the pin removed and the contents of the bag, also may be removedwithout any need of checking the list of articles.

It will be observed from Fig. 2 that the location of the opening t is such that when the pin 9 is inserted in the metal cap 2 and the arm 8 of the lock is placed in the opening 4 the pin 9 is securely held in place against removal.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided a very eflicient and inexpensive device for closing a laundry bag and preventing its contents from being lost or exchanged.

What I claim is:

1. YA closure locking device for a laundry bag for washing clothes therein and comprising in combination, a safety pin eonstruetion, a sheet metal cap or protecting end for the pointed end of the pin which cap is formed with an opening, a locking member passed through the opening to prevent the removal of the pin from the said cap and pin protecting member, an identification tag permanently secured to the fixed or bar member of the pin, the pin being designed to be passed through the gathered folds at the open end of the bag, as described.

2. A closure locking device for the purpose described comprising a safety pin construction, a sheet metal cap. which is secured to the end of the fixed bar of the pin, said cap having a folded part for receiving the sharp end of the movable part of the pin, and an opening which intersects with the folded part, a locking device in the opening which contacts with the movable part of the pin to prevent its removal, the pin being designed to be passed through the folds of the open end of the tag.

HARRY SAMBLE. 

